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Stocks gain after reports on housing, Ukraine

Published on NewsOK
Modified: March 18, 2014 at 3:55 pm •
Published: March 18, 2014

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NEW YORK (AP) — Encouraging news on the economy gave the stock market a boost on Tuesday.

Stocks also rose on expectations that the conflict between Russia and the West wouldn't escalate further. Russia's President Vladimir Putin is preparing to complete the annexation of the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, but he said Tuesday that he won't take over other areas of Ukraine.

In this Wednesday, March 12, 2014, photo, specialists Anthony Matesic, left, and John Urrbanowitz confer as they work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Asian stocks advanced Tuesday, March 18, 2014, on stronger U.S. factory production and relief that sanctions imposed on Russia following the Crimea reference avoid its vital economic interests. European markets were down. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

The stock market is recovering this week after logging its biggest weekly drop in almost two months. The S&P 500 has gained 1.7 percent this week after dropping almost 2 percent last week on concerns about slowing growth in China and tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

The annexation of Crimea "is a horrible thing for the world in the long term," said Uri Landesman, president of Platinum Partners. "But the market doesn't want unrest."

Microsoft jumped after Reuters reported that CEO Satya Nadella plans to use his first big press event March 27 to unveil an iPad version of the company's Office software suite. Analysts regard this as a first step for Nadella in repositioning Microsoft as a company that focuses on mobile devices rather than the shrinking market for personal computers.

The company's stock climbed $1.50, or 3.9 percent, to $39.55, its highest level since July, 2000.

Hewlett-Packard rose $1.08, or 3.7 percent, to $30.56 after analysts at Barclays upgraded their outlook on the hardware company and raised their price target on the stock to $38 from $33. They expect HP to return more cash to shareholders and gain market share in the server business from rivals in coming months.

Stocks opened higher after Putin told the Russian Parliament not to believe those who say that the country will look to take over other areas of Ukraine.

The stock market also got a lift from a report that showed inflation remains tame, despite a big rise in the cost of food.

The consumer price index rose 0.1 percent in February, matching January's increase, the Labor Department said Tuesday. In the past 12 months, prices have risen just 1.1 percent, the smallest yearly gain in five months.

That means that the Federal Reserve can continue to provide stimulus to the economy and focus on reducing unemployment and boosting economic growth without having to worry that its policies are stoking inflation.